In safari the keyboard refuses to enlarge again. No idea how it’s right. Did not intentionally do this. The directions on Apple do not work.

Thank you, Lotus Pilot. This method works for me. But, now I have a redundant Apple Pencil (AP). Or I have to switch iPad on/off to toggle using it and keyboard. This is a recent issue and may have reasons behind it, but is very much an inconvenience. Also when using AP, there is no longer text suggestions in iPadOS16 at the top of the floaty keyboard. I am dyslexic and the new auto text in little box things by the text when AP typing are pretty useless, by being regularly irrelevant. Making the AP option almost unusable for me now.

Have you enabled the iPadOS Scribble feature? This feature uses a different mini-keyboard that does not respond to the two-finger zoom or pinch gestures.

Settings > Apple Pencil > Scribble - set to OFF

After disabling Scribble, you may need to force-restart your iPad:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Otherwise, to restore the new Floating Keyboard to the normal on-screen keyboard presentation, use the two-finger “zoom” gesture (i.e., the reverse of the two-finger “pinch”).

If the Split Keyboard is restored instead of the full on-screen keyboard, you can either use two fingers (one on each of the two half-keyboards) and swipe the two halves together - or touch-and-hold the “keyboard” key, then slide your finger to the Merge & Dock option and release.

Use the floating keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support

Split and move the keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support